Trail forms for paving machines



July 25, 1961 PERKlNs ET AL 2,993,257

TRAIL FORMS FOR PAVING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 8,1956 July 25, 1961 G. E. PERKINS ETAL 2,993,257

TRAIL FORMS FOR PAVING MACHINES Original Filed May 8, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I 12 WI I ""flll .fizzntom @7672 E l erkz'ns Georgeil/fflale United States Patent C 2,993,257 TRAIL FORMS FOR PAVINGMACHI'NES Glen E. Perkins and George W. Dale, Rock Island, Ill.Continuation of application Ser. No. 583,541, May 8, 1956. Thisapplication May 25, 1960, Ser. No. 31,783

- 4 Claims. (Cl. 25-118) This invention relates to improvements in formsfor confining the lateral edges of newly formed paved roads or the like,and refers particularly to spaced forms which may be pulled along thelateral edges of a newly formed pavement by the machine which lays thepavement.

This application is a continuation of our application Serial No.583,541, filed May 8, 1956, and now abandoned.

For convenience in description, the forms embodying the presentinvention will be hereinafter referred to herein as trail forms, theexpression being used in the sense that the forms trail or follow apaving machine.

In the copending patent applications filed in the names of Perkins andDale Serial Nos. 462,309 and 510,928, respectively filed on October 14,1954, and May 25, 1955, the latter application now abandoned, a roadmaking machine is described which carries its own spaced forms whichmove over the road site along with the machine and between which thepaving material is laid. In the laying of concrete pavements apredetermined minimum time is necessary after the pavement is laid forthe concrete initially to set, that is, before flow or slumping isinhibited. Hence, it is desirable that the lateral edges of a newly laidpavement be supported until this setting time has expired. During thepavement laying operation the lateral edges of the pavement aresupported by the slip forms of the paving machine. However, foreconomical operation the machine must be operated at such a rate oftravel that the slip forms of the paving machine must leave the lateraledges of the newly laid pavement before the concrete has initially set.

The present invention contemplates a set of trail forms which may besecured to the trailing ends of the paving machines slip forms wherebythe lateral edges of the pavement, before initial set has occurred, willbe supported by the trail forms.

*One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision ofa set of trail forms which may be quickly and conveniently securedtogether and to the slip forms of the paving machine, the means ofsecurement being such that the trail forms may articulate with respectto each other and with respect to the slip forms both in a horizontaland vertical plane.

Another important object of the present invention resides in simple andconveniently adjusted means for squaring the vertical surfaces of thetrail forms so that the lateral edges of the pavement are maintained insquare relationship to the surface of the pavement, said means alsobeing employed to properly space the trail forms on the opposite lateraledges of the road.

A further important feature of the invention resides in means forflexing the individual trail forms intermediate their length.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a set of trail forms embodying the conceptsof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the forms shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 33of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG.2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of a flexing rod which bears uponone of the forms.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view illustrating the secur-- ing meansemployed to secure a trail form to a paving:

machine slip form and the means for securing a trail form to an adjacentfollowing trail'form.

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 7.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 indicates the trailing end portionof a paving machine of the type described in the copending applicationsfor patent of Perkins and Dale, aforesaid. The paving machine describedin said patent applications is of the type which carries its own formsbetween which the paving material is laid to form a paved slab, thepaving machine forms, or slip forms, functioning to laterally confinethe paving material and define the lateral edges of the slab as themachine moves along the road site. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference nu.-meral 2 indicates the trailing ends of the paving machine slip forms,the machine being propelled by movable tracks or crawlers 3. Thereference numeral 4 in FIG. 1 indicates the opposed surfaces of the slipform which confines and defines the opposite lateral edges of thepavement.

As has been hereinbefore described, the paving material laid by thepaving machine requires a minimum period, of time to acquire an initialset. If the paving machine is to move forwardly along the road site atan efficient speed, the trailing ends 2 of the paving machine slip formsleave the paved slab before the initial set takes place. Hence, theopposite lateral edges of the newly laid slab are un supported by theopposed inner surfaces 4 and said lateral edges are likely to flow orslump outwardly.

To combat this difiiculty the present invention contem plates the use ofspaced trail forms 5. The trail forms, in general, comprise relativelyelongated members having substantially flat inner opposed surfaces whichare adapted to move along the opposite lateral defining edges of thenewly laid pavement and support said edges after the paving machine hasmoved forwardly. The trail forms illustrated and described hereincomprise channel members but it is to be understood that said trailforms may comprise elongated wooden beams or structural metal beams solong as the trail forms have substantially fiat inner opposed surfaceswhich are of sufficient depth to embrace and sustain properly thelateral edges of the newly laid pavement.

Employing trail forms 5, said forms comprise channel members, bestillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, said channel members having a relativelyfiat face 6 and flanges 7, the face 6 being adapted to contact thelateral edge of the pavement. In employing the trail forms 5 the flatfaces 6 thereof are adapted to be disposed in coplanar alignment withthe opposed faces 4 of the slip forms.

To secure the leading end of each trail form 5 to the trailing end of arespective slip form, it is proposed to employ a relatively flathook-like member 8 which may be welded to the inner face of the web ofeach channel and which may project beyond the end of the channeladjacent its upper edge. The trailing ends of each slip form 2 carries aloop engagement member 9 which may be secured to the slip form and maybe provided with an aperture 10 into which the hook portion 11 of arespective member 8 may engage. In addition, below each hook member 8 abar 12 may be secured to the leading end of each of the trail forms,said bar projecting beyond said end and being engageable with an openhook member 13 which may be mounted upon the slip form 2.

The trail forms 5 may be secured to the respective ends v Patented July25,. 1961.

and 10 with the engaging means 9 and 13. To prevent unintendeddisengagement a segment 14 may be pivotally mounted as at 15 in FIG. 7upon the trailing end portion 2 of each slip form, the :lower endportion of the segment 14 being arcuate, as shown best at 16 in FIG. 7.It can readily be seen that after the members 8 and 12 have been broughtinto respective engagement with the members 9 and 13 the segment 14 maybe swung to the position shown in FIG. 7 and will retain such positionby gravity.

In view of the fact that the road site in some instances may curvelaterally, it is desirable that the connection between the trail formsand the slip forms be such that a degree of horizontal articulation bepermitted. In order to accomplish this result sufficient play isprovided between the apertures 10 and in the hooks 13 which will permita degree of swingable movement of the respective trail forms withrespect to the connecting slip forms. In addition, the elevation of theroad site frequently varies and hence a degree of vertical articulationis desirable. This articulation is also provided by the play whichexists at the ends of the apertures 10 in the engaging members 9 andalso by the arcuate surfaces 16 of the locking segments 14. Of course,the radius of curvature of curves in a road are relatively large andalso the changes in elevation of a road contemplate large radii ofcurvature so that the inclinations thereof will be gradual. Hence, thedegree of articulation both horizontally and vertically in theconnecting members between the trail forms and the slip forms need notbe great.

To align the faces 6 of the trail forms with the surfaces 4 of the slipforms is most desirable and inasmuch as the surfaces 4 of the slip formsare substantially square to the upper surface of the pavement, it isdesirable that the surfaces 6 of the trail forms also be squared withthe upper surfaces of the pavement. To accomplish this end one or moresockets or sleeves 17 (FIGS. 4 and 9) may be sesured to each of thetrail forms 5, preferably by welding 18, the axes of the sockets orsleeves being parallel to the face 6 of the trail forms. The sockets 17are adapted for the slidable reception of alignment pins 19 which maycarry upwardly extending bridge-supporting members 20. Thebridge-supporting members are adapted to support bridge or spacing beams21. The spacing beams 21 may comprise built-up members having upperrails 22 and lower rails 23 bridged by reinforcing struts 24. Thespacing beams 21 are preferably made in units whereby one or more unitsmay be employed to bridge the distance between opposite trail forms.Each of the units may have opposite terminal bars 25 which are disposedat substantially right-angles to rails 22 and 23.

Each bridge-supporting member 20 carries a plurality of spaced studs 26which have threaded shanks. The transverse bars 25 may be provided withsuitably spaced apertures whereby said bars may be engaged with saidstuds. The shanks of the studs 26 may be threaded to receive adjustingnuts 27. Where more than one bridge unit is employed the bars 25 ofadjacent units may be brought into abutting relationship to each otherand may be secured together by bolts 28. However, the endmost bars 25 ofthe unit or units will engage with the oppositely positioned studs 26carried by the bridge-supporting members 20.

By the provision of the bridge or spacing members 21, the opposite trailforms may be maintained at a substantially equal distance from eachother throughout their length, the bridging members functioningessentially as spacers. However, in order to make the faces 6 of thetrail forms substantially vertically parallel to each other the nuts 27carried upon the opposite studs 26 may be manipulated until the faces 6of the opposite trail forms are parallel to each other and substaniallyvertical. By this arrangement the trail forms may be appropriatelygeometrically oriented with the inner surfaces 4 of the slip forms andalso with the lateral edges of the pavement which was defined by theslip form surfaces 4.

4 When the pavements are not substantially horizontal in highways whichare referred to as super elevated highways it may be desirable to soadjust the trail forms that their faces are not vertical and the facesof opposite trail forms may not be parallel to each other. In thesecircumstances, the upper and lower nuts 27 upon the studs 26 carried bythe opposite members 20 may be manipulated so as to incline the faces 6of the trail forms at adesired angle with the vertical.

Depending upon the rate of forward progress of the paving machine andthe setting characteristics of thepaving mixture, one or more sets oftrail forms may be employed. Accordingly, for purposes of illustration asecond set of trail forms is shown in the drawings. In view of the factthat the second set of trail forms is identical to the first set,hereinbefore described, corresponding parts of said second set of formswill be designated by primed reference numerals corresponding to likeparts in the first set without further detailed description.

When more than one set of trail forms is employed the second trail forms5 will be secured to the trailing ends of the first forms 5 so as topermit the same degree of articulation, both vertically andhorizontally, as is contemplated between the trail forms 5 and the slipforms 2.

Thus, the same type of engaging members 8', 9', 12' and 13' areemployed, as shown best in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. However, in view of thefact that the trail forms 5 and 5' are of substantially equal height, amodified form of locking or retaining means is used instead of theswingable segment 14. The locking or retaining means employed betweenand abutting trail forms comprises a swingable latch bar 29 which may bepivotally secured to the top of one of each pair of trail forms by meansof bolt 30, preferably the leading trail forms of the abutting pair. The

securement of the latch bar '29 is not sufiiciently tight to prevent thedesired degree of articulation between the trail forms, but will preventthe trail form which carries the engaging members 8' and 12 to moveupwardly relative to the abutting form to such an extent as to permitunintended disengagement of the engaging member 8'.

All sets of trail forms will be bridged by one or more bridging members21. However, unless the trail forms are exceedingly long, only onebridging member has been found necessary for each set of trail forms andsaid bridging member is preferably carried adjacent the trailing ends ofthe trail form sets, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As another important aspect of the present invention, each of the trailforms 5 and 5 carry flexing rods 31 and 31, respectively. The rods 31and 31' extend along the length of the respective forms and areanchored, preferably by welding, at their ends to the outer endportions" of the forms. Intermediate the length of each form 30 and 31,a reaction plate 32 is secured, preferably by welding, to the flanges 7of the forms. Each plate 32 is provided with an aperture 33 (FIG. 6)into which a bolt 34 loosely extends. secured to an intermediate portionof each flexingrod. The shank of each bolt 34 is threaded and isenigageable by an adjusting nut 36 which bears upon the outer surfacesof each reaction plate 32.

When the road material is confined between the opposite trail forms, ithas not acquired an initial set, which, of course, is the reason for theuse of the trail forms, as has been hereinbefore described. Not beinginitially set, the material has a degree of mobility and, hence, exertsan outwardly directed lateral pressure upon the trail forms. Hence, inmany instances this pressure is of sutficient magnitude to cause thetrail forms to flex or deflect convex outwardly. This deflection can beresisted by manipulating the nuts 36 to increase the tension of rods 31whereby, if desired, the trail forms may be tained in substantiallystraight condition.

However, it is frequently desirable, particularlywhen the trail formsmove around a curve in the road con- The head 3-5 of each bolt isrigidly mainroad curves in a predetermined direction it may be desirableto flex the outer trail forms convex outwardly and to flex the inneropposite trail forms concave outwardly or convex inwardly. Thus, theopposite trail forms more nearly conform to the trace of the road thanif they were straight. To accommodate the trail forms to such acondition, the nuts 36 on the outer trail forms may be manipulated todecrease the tension of the flexing rods 31 and permit the lateral forceof the road material to flex the outer trail forms convex outwardly. Thetension of the rods 31 on the opposite or inner forms may besimultaneously increased to flex the inner trail forms convex inwardly.Thus, the trail forms may conform substantially to the curvature of theroad which facilitates the movement of the trail forms and produces amore clean cut finished edge upon the pavement.

We claim:

1. A set of trail forms for confining the lateral sides of a newly laidslab of paving material, said trail forms comprising a pair ofrelatively elongated beams, means carried at one end of each of saidbeams for making articulated connection to the trailing ends of therespective spaced slip forms of a movable paving machine between which aslab of paving material has been newly laid, said trail forms havingrelatively flat faces facing each other which are adapted for coplanaralignment with the respective opposed faces of the paver slip forms,bridging means carried by said opposite trail forms spaced from the endscarrying said articulated connection means, said bridging meanscomprising a bridge-supporting member carried upon each trail form andextending transversely to the length of said trail form and disposedsubstantially parallel to the flat face of said trail form, a bridgingmemher for connecting opposite bridge-supporting members, said bridgingmember comprising a substantially rectangular structure having oppositeends, independent adjustable connecting means carried by each of saidbridging members and connected to vertically spaced portions of eachopposite bridge-supporting member whereby the flat opposed faces of saidtrail forms may be spaced a predetermined distance from each other andat a predetermined angle of inclination to each other to align saidrelatively flat faces of said trail forms with the respective opposedfaces of said slip forms, and a tension rod secured at each of its endsto the outer face of each trail form, each tension rod being disposedsubstantially parallel to the trail form upon which it is carried, andmovable means interposed between each tension rod and carrying trailform intermediate its length for controllably separating the tension rodwith respect to the carrying trail form to increase and decrease thetension of the tension rod.

2. A set of trail forms for confining the lateral sides of a newly laidslab of paving material, said trail forms comprising a pair ofrelatively elongated beams, means carried at one end of each of saidbeams for making articulated connection to the trailing ends of therespective spaced slip forms of a movable paving machine between which aslab of paving material has been newly laid, said trail forms havingrelatively flat faces facing each other which are adapted for coplanaralignment with the respective opposed faces of the paver slip forms, anda bridging structure carried by said opposite trail forms spaced fromthe ends carrying said articulated connection means, said bridgingstructure comprising a bridge-supporting member carried upon each trailform and extending upwardly from said trail form, bridging meansconnecting opposite bridge-supporting members, independent adjustableconnecting means carried by said bridging means and connected tovertically spaced portions of each opposite bridge-supporting memberwhereby the flat opposed faces of said trail forms may be spaced apredetermined distance from each other and at a predetermined angle ofinclination to each other to align said relatively flat faces of saidtrail forms with the respective opposed faces of said slip forms, and atension rod connected at each of its ends to the outer face of eachtrail form, each tension rod being disposed substantially parallel tothe trail form upon which it is carried, abutment means interposedbetween each tension rod and carrying trail form intermediate itslength, and means for adjusting the tension of the tension rod withrespect to the carrying trail form to increase and decrease the tensionof the tension rod.

3. A set of trail forms for confining the lateral sides of a newly laidslab of paving material, said trail forms comprising a pair ofrelatively elongated beams, means carried at one end of each of saidbeams for making articulated connection to the trailing ends of therespective spaced slip forms of a movable paving machine between which aslab of paving material has been newly laid, said trail forms havingrelatively flat faces facing each other which are adapted for coplanaralignment with the respective opposed faces of the paver slip forms, anupright bridge-supporting member adjacent the opposite end of each ofsaid beams and extending upwardly thereabove, each bridge-supportingmember being fixed against lateral movement relative to the respectivebeam, a rigid brid-ge member extending between said bridge-supportingmembers, said bridge member being generally rectangular in form anddisposed in a vertical plane with its opposite vertical edges juxtaposedto said bridge-supporting members, and adjustable connecting meanssecuring each end of said bridge member to the respective ones of saidbridge-supporting members, said connecting means each comprising a pairof vertically spaced longitudinally extending fasteners secured to oneof said members and adju-stably connected to the other of said members,said fasteners being individually adjustable relative to said othermember to vary the distance between said beams and the 'dispositioin ofsaid flat faces thereof relative to vertical.

4. Means for adjustably interconnecting a pair of laterally spacedgenerally coextensive slip forms, comprising a pair of uprightbridge-supporting members mounted at corresponding laterally opposedlocations on the slip forms and extending upwardly thereabove, meansfixedly retaining each bridge-supporting member against lateral movementrelative to the respective slip form, a rigid bridge member extendingbetween said bridgesupporting members, said bridge member beinggenerally rectangular in form and disposed in a vertical plane with itsopposite vertical edges juxtaposed to said bridgesupporting members, andadjustable connecting means securing each end of said bridge member tothe respective ones of said bridge-supporting members, said connectingmeans each comprising a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extendingfasteners secured to one of said members and adjustably connected to theother of said members, said fasteners being individually adjustablerelative to said other member to vary the distance between said slipforms and the disposition of said slip forms relative to vertical.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,644,586 Heltzel Oct. 4, 1927 2,562,403 Ahart July 3 1, 1951 2,564,935Templeton Aug. 21, 1951 2,809,414 Mitchell Oct. 15, 1957 2,874,442Henderson Feb. 24, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Construction Methods andEquipment, article, March 1954, page 82.

Construction Methods and Equipment, article, Nov. 1954, page 90.

